Hi y’all. My name is Frankie Lou Birmingham McMasters and I want to thank Dru Ann for inviting me to introduce myself. I admit my daily life has been pretty dull since I moved back to Ruby Springs, a small, dry and dusty community in West Texas. However the dull part changed in a big way today. A way that put me looking mighty guilty after . . . well, I’ll give you the mini-version of what happened today.
Today started as usual with coffee for me and cereal for my pre-teen daughter, Betsy, before I walked her to school, then continued a few blocks through town to my job as “assistant of whatever” in Doc Adderley’s Animal Clinic. My social life is non-existent.
After our quick mac ’n cheese dinner, I dropped Betsy off at my neighbor, Nettie Bloom’s house, and headed to Faith Community Church to meet with the deacons. I needed their permission to use the conference room for my newly-organized teen singing group, The Joyful Noise. When I entered the room, I was blind-sided by the unexpected appearance of Poppy Rose Fremont, the walkin’, talkin’ nightmare from my high school years. There she was, lips flapping a mile a minute, recycling ancient gossip about me to the astonished, wide-eyed deacons. Old hurts were suddenly, painfully recalled. She was still the same old Poppy Rose, mean-spirited as ever and determined to undermine any project of mine that might make me look good. She did jealously so well, bless her heart. That old immature part of me wanted to smack her upside the head with a two-by-four. The mature part prayed Lord, help me stay calm.
What about the gossip, you ask? Well, I’ll try to clear it up real quick, so I can tell you the rest. Growing up as a preacher’s kid (P.K.) was a painful lesson in learning the meaning between popular and not-so-popular. Looking back now, I’m not proud of trying to be like the ‘in’ crowd with my not-so-holy, rebellious actions. Needless to say, my daddy kept his shotgun propped against the pulpit the day I married sweet-talkin’ B.J. McMasters. More than a decade later, I’m back in Ruby Springs, a single mom trying to redeem my reputation and put some shine back on my badly tarnished halo. However, today’s events keep working against me.
Seeing Poppy Rose at the meeting set my blood to boiling, so I headed to the dessert table for some goodies and sweet tea to cool off. What happened after that was anything but calming. You see, I accidentally baptized Poppy Rose’s expensive outfit with my sweet tea and my plate of lemon bars slid down the front of her shirt like guided missiles. Not a pretty sight. She flounced out of that meetin’ screeching like a blue-jay sitting on a hot wire. Cryin’ out loud, I said I was sorry. Believe it or not, the deacons approved my request in spite of the mess. Hallelujah, Amen!
But a happy ending to my not-so-normal day was not to be. Instead it ended in a real disaster after I discovered Poppy’s body in the baptistery and wound up riding to police head-quarters in the back seat of a cruiser. Too bad the police didn’t appreciate my help. My behind-the-scene sleuthing would’ve proved my innocence a lot sooner. And momma would’ve stayed in Florida, bless her heart.
Bringing In The Thieves is the first book in the “Joyful Noise” mystery series, published by Bell Bridge Books, December 2014.
Minister’s daughter Frankie Lou McMasters has come back to Ruby Springs, Texas with her daughter, Betsy, eleven years after running off to marry the town bad boy. Her mild notoriety as a bad girl is prime gossip for her childhood enemy, Poppy Fremont, now choir director of Faith Community Church-where Frankie Lou’s daddy, now retired to Florida, was the preacher.
When Frankie Lou comes to the deacons with a request to add a youth choir of at-risk teens she’s been coaching, Poppy throws a fit. A few hours later, Frankie Lou finds her dead in the baptistery pool. And Poppy’s not playing possum.
Frankie Lou sets out to clear her name as the main suspect, and tries to locate the real killer. Could he be sexy Joe Camps, the father of one of her teen singers? In the mean-time, her momma shows up from Florida to take charge of Frankie Lou’s life. Bless her heart.
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All comments are welcomed.
Meet the author
Lora Lee lives in West Michigan near her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When she’s not writing or spending time with her large, fun-loving family, she enjoys traveling.
Visit Lora at lora-lee.com, on Twitter, on Facebook, on Google+ and Goodreads.
Giveaway: Leave comment below for your chance to win a digital copy of Bringing In The Thieves. The giveaway will end March 4, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for introducing us and the chance to win.
Yay! A new author to add to my tbr. Sounds like a fun book! Thanks for the chance!
Bless your heart, Dru, for bringing us a great Southern church mystery and a new series/author. Thank you, Lora Lee for bringing us a new series. Joyful Noise sounds like a delightful series & I can’t wait to read Bringing in the Thieves. Thanks for the chance in the giveaway.
Bringing in the Thieves sounds like a great book. I am looking forward to reading it.
This sounds delightful and so authentically little Texas town. I’d love to start this series!
I like finding a new series at the beginning. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love church settings for mysteries and reading fictionalized accounts of things Christians have to cope with and that their humanity shows through despite their faith.
Sounds like a awesome new series. Can’t witbto read it. Thanks Dru for introducing it. 🙂
I don’t think I’ve read any books where a murder occurs in a church. This should be interesting. And Poppy certainly sounds holier than thou!
Sounds like a good book. Thank you for introducing me to another “new-to-me” author and the chance to win a digital copy of Bringing In The Thieves.
Sounds like a book I would love to read – hope this becomes a series.
Sounds fun! Thanks for the chance to win.
Oh my, what an idea for a story, sounds interesting though. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book.
wfnren at aol dot com
Well! This promises to be a good book and a lot of fun mixed in with the murder! Thanks for the chance to win a copy, Lora Lee! I am anxious to read it. Dru, I appreciate the chance to learn about another fun cozy. 🙂
Yes please Dru, I’d love to win this book because it looks like Momma is gonna need a bit of biatch slapping to keep her from ruining Frankie Lou’s life.
Sounds like another fun series, would love to win, ty
Sounds great. I’ve lived in Texas most of my life and I love it.
This book may have been made for me. It sounds like something this former Texan pastor’s wife would relate to brilliantly! Adding to my TBR list, and thanks for the chance to win!
Thank you Dru for the opportunity to win this book. Sounds intriguing from a fascinating new author.
Thanks for the chance to win Dru and Lora Lee
Love books about Texas! Thanks for the giveaway Dru Ann!
Nothing better than starting out with the first book in a new series. Thanks for the giveaway. robeader53@yahoo.com
Thanks so much for the enthusiastic comments so far, y’all. Keep ’em coming. You’ve added some sunshine to this gray, snowy day.
For those who asked, Book #2 of the Joyful Noise Mysteries in the works, slow but sure. I’m not as young as Frankie Lou, but I’m tryin’ my best to keep up with her, bless her heart. I’m so happy y’all like her and I’ll be anxious to read your reviews after you read the book.
~~~Lora Lee
Great interview with Frankie Lou. Sounds like an interesting read. Will be adding to my TBR list.
This is an awesome book! You’ll devour it and then wait impatiently for more stories about Frankie Lou!
I LOVE Frankie Lou! This is such a great read. Lora Lee, you have the perfect “voice” for this cozy mystery. Best wishes!
On my TBR pile! Love the sound of this book.
I love the job title — assistant of whatever. I held a job like that for over 20 years—-it never did have a real title.
Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I am looking forward to reading this one! Thanks!
What can I say? Love the cover. Love the title. It’s on my TBR. Looking forward to getting it sooner rather than later because it looks like a fun read. And brings back memories of when I was a working girl. A Poppy clone was so handy. And she wondered why she had no real friends Do so love it when you introduce us to a new writer and series. So exciting. Do appreciate this. Thank you
New series to me, sounds interesting, and I love the cover.
A must-read for me!!!
Thank you for the giveaway…..